This finally cemented in Luo Binghe's mind that this Shen Qingqiu is completely different from the Shen Qingqiu he knew, and he gave up looking for malintent in his actions.

Besides, Liu Qingge saved him when Sha Hualing tried to attack. Bai Zhan Peak's Lord, Liu Qingge, who Shen Qingqiu killed in cold blood in Bingge's world! These two were supposed to be sworn enemies. Yet everything is upside down in this world, even Liu Qingge. The story is twisted beyond recognition from the original one.

"Martial Uncle Liu, this strong poison 'Without A Cure,' is it truly without a cure?" Words came out of Young Binghe's mouth, full of concern.

Shen Qingqiu kneeled down, as if he could no longer stand, and the disciple shakenly supported his master. "Let me lie down...... let me lie down for a while." He's still trying to save face but the spasms from the poison is really strong. Bingge felt conflicting emotions stirring inside him as he watched him like this.

Young Binghe is on the verge of crying. Therefore, even if he doesn't want to, Bingge is also teary eyed. Bingge felt he was losing face but could only suffer alone, since no one even knows the struggle he's going through reeling from the effect of crying for his enemy. Young Binghe weakly called out, "Shizun."

"I knew...... you would definitely win."

Both Luo Binghes sharing one body startled from those words and even before the young one can say anything, Shen Qingqiu lost consciousness in his arms. The young disciple's tears fell down, and Bingge's mind went blank, observing the scene as if he was the one crying. Crying for Shen Qingqiu.

It feels so wrong in many ways.

***

Since then, Young Binghe spent his days by Shen Qingqiu's side, taking care of him. Bingge watched his own hands prepare breakfast for 'Shizun', hear his own lips speak warmly to 'Shizun', feel his own hands cling to 'Shizun' like an attention-seeking child. It fucked up his mind in the first few days, internally cursing Shen Qingqiu and his young self here.

Also, it was Shen Qingqiu who accompanied him in the dreamscape that Meng Mo. the elder dream demon, made for him instead of Ning Yingying. So it seems that all the scenarios that should have happened with his wives went to Shen Qingqiu. Bingge don't know whether to laugh or cry, call out to the god voice to kill him or beg for him to take him back to his world. In the end, Bingge still continued unlocking the memories of his self here.

When Meng Mo was negotiating with Young Binghe to become his disciple in cultivating the demonic path, it was also Shen Qingqiu's welfare that was being negotiated. Bingge can notice the annoyance in the dream demon's face whenever Young Binghe couldn't speak a single sentence without 'Shizun'. Nothing I can do about it either, old man. This kid is absolutely smitten. Bingge sighed internally.

Young Binghe didn't agree immediately either, but instead escaped the dreamscape on his own. He hurriedly went to Shen Qingqiu's side checking to see if anything's wrong. The master reassured him, and seeing that everything is fine, he took his courage to ask, "Shizun, the demons...... are they all unpardonably evil and should be absolutely killed?"

Bingge also waited for his answer expectantly.

"It might not be the case. Just as humans are separated into good and evil people, the demons also have these differences. We can only see the Demon Realm people persecuting humans, but it could be that from that corner, there are also humans who harm innocent demons. Many times, these are only racial views that let the divide between both sides become deeper and deeper."

Huh. What a well-thought answer that my Shen Qingqiu would never say. Bingge praised. But it's all wrong. No one would believe that demons can be kind. Even I am a living proof of that.

"Shizun's meaning is that even though there are relations with demons, it might not be evil, correct?"

"As long as nothing deliberately wrong is done, as long as the heart is righteous, there can be friends on that side. Dividing lines such as evil are never decided by one race or Realm. Moreover, demons are naturally born with strong spiritual power, far more than humans. On this point, this master fully admires them. If their strength can be put to good use, used for righteousness, how can this be anything other than good?"

This made Young Binghe relax and finally decided to take up Men Mo's offer.

So despite this 'Shen Qingqiu' being the good one, he still wasn't able to stop Luo Binghe from going through the demonic path. In fact, he even unconsciously pushed the young'un to that direction. This is really interesting to Bingge, like there were two sides to the life of this Luo Binghe instead of the darkness that he experienced.

Another interesting development: Before Young Binghe can go back to sleep on the shed, Shen Qingqiu told him to stay on the room at the side of the bamboo house. So that's how the division Bingge woke up on came to be. THEY EVEN SLEPT NEXT TO EACH OTHER! How frustrating!

Yet the young brat happily hugged his master, as if he was given the best gift in the world.

Shen Qingqiu held up his hand like he didn't know where to put it. Tangled for a while, he laid it on Luo Binghe's head and rubbed his hair: "All right. Aren't you embarrassed, you've already become so big and aren't a ten-year-old child anymore, what kind of appearance is this?"

The appearance of a lovesick child. Bingge rolled his eyes internally.

"Yes, this disciple went beyond himself." Young Binghe blushed.

On Shen Qingqiu's face was an indiscernible expression, something like....... motherly doting? Like he find this clingy brat really, really cute! Bingge went cold internally from that kind of gaze, yet the Young Binghe he's possessing just smiled brighter than before.

Young Binghe noticed that Shen Qingqiu's complexion wasn't really good, and thought to himself, I have to do everything for Shizun's nutrition! And secretly went to the kitchen, coming up with meals for tomorrow to ensure his master's health. This much determination is almost the same as a thoughtful wife doing her best to cook and care for her beloved husband! Bingge was baffled, still unable to believe he's really doing this.

Days later, the Dream Demon appeared again.

"You've decided on something you definitely won't regret. Brat, remember this day well. Today is the beginning of your meteoric rise!" Meng Mo laughed heartily.

Yet Young Binghe remained stern. "This young one has one more request."

"What else is there, it's all been discussed! Quickly finish talking so you can pledge me as master."

"What this younger generation requests is indeed regarding the matter of a master. Shizun's grace to me is heavy as a mountain. I truly cannot disrespect his discipline and acknowledge someone else as a master......"

"Fine, fine, fine! This old man doesn't want the disciple's title, will that do?!"

Bingge sighed more. He doesn't even want to acknowledge Meng Mo as a shifu for the sake of Shen Qingqiu? How far can this kid's shameless infatuation go?

The days go by and turned into weeks, months and eventually, years. Young Binghe's days were spent making breakfast, training under 'Shizun's' supervision, thinking about Shizun all day, and training under Meng Mo at night. This child was full of hope and promise, and Bingge was also the same when he was younger, only that his hope's were for revenge and other dark thoughts. What a ray of sunshine, this version of himself was.

And with a benevolent, mindful Shizun on his side, Young Binghe is always all smiles.

Bingge became used to it eventually, like he borrowed this life as his own. He...... envy Young Binghe somehow. He was much more powerful and greater than this version, so how come this him is happier by a million fold?

"Sorry!" Young Binghe purposefully fell into Shen Qingqiu's embrace after ten laps. "Twenty more laps, right?"

Shen Qingqiu sighed, but just patted his head. "No, let's rest for now. Just remember to fix your landing next time. Though next time will probably be the same, no matter how many times I tell you. Does this disciple even listen to anything I say?"

"Yes! Can Shizun forgive me too this time? I'll improve, I promise!" Young Binghe's eyes twinkled.

"Oh, well. Even if you don't, I'll still forgive you a hundred more times." He tapped Young Binghe's shoulder lightly. "Alright, let's get inside and eat dinner."

Oh, that's right. No wonder Young Binghe is always happy.

He had this Shen Qingqiu on his side. Bingge felt a light pain on his chest.

It's....unfair.

But Young Binghe's shoulder where the hand rest upon is also his shoulder. The warm voice of Shen Qingqiu is being directed to him. And after years of being like this, one would mistake illusion from reality.

Bingge is starting to forget. He's starting to believe that this 'Binghe' is him, that his thoughts, words and and his actions, and even his feeling for Shen Qingqiu... were his own.

Until the day of the Immortal Alliance Conference came.